Photograph by: Special to The Sun
, Special to The Sun

VANCOUVER — Thousands of fans began flooding into Vancouver bars as soon as doors opened this morning in advance of today's epic gold medal hockey game against the United States at just after noon.

Lineups are already down the block at downtown bars and restaurants in anticipation of today's men's gold-medal hockey game between Canada and the U.S.

Crowds are thick in Gastown at the German Fan Fest on Water Street, where flag-draped fans started lining up as early as 8 a.m. to get a seat.

Brother and sister Jamie and Ashley Vaughn of Chilliwack said the German tent offers the best atmosphere, though it only boasts one television.

"It's all love for the Canadian hockey players," Jamie Vaughn, 26, said.

"Like a big family," Ashley, 24, added.

Clad in a Cowichan sweater and maple leaf shutter shades, Sean Tull, 21, of Duncan also chose to cheer on his team at the German Fan Fest.

He had hoped to win tickets to the game through a CTV contest the night before.

"We did the all-nighter last night to win the gold-medal tickets, but no dice," he said.

Over at Malone's Bar and Grill on West Pender Street, Jordan Giesbrecht was one of about 200 red-and-white clad fans out on the sidewalk enthusiastically shouting "Go Canada Go."

"It's the best atmosphere, big TVs," the 24-year-old from Calgary said of the venue.

Meanwhile, U.S. fans found themselves huddling together to escape the taunts of Canadian fans.

"I just saw these guys in line and jumped in for safety," said Tony Faulkner of Bellingham, Washington, as he joined a group of Californians — all of them wearing bandanas decorated with the stars and stripes around their necks — at the Lennox Pub on Robson Street.

Photograph by: Special to The Sun, Special to The Sun

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